Statistical machine



June 27, 1933. P. w.- HANDEL STATISTICAL MACHINE Filed April 27, 1951 4U ..d e win Mn 0a r, H o n b eW .t vi A Tmw .6

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Patented June 27, 1933 3 UNITED STATES A'rENr oFFicE PAUL w. HANDEL, orNEWARK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC ooMrAnY, A CORPORATION or NEWYORK STATISTICAL MACHINE Application filed A ril 27,

My invention relates to statistical machines of the type in whichsuccessive comparisons are made between a character and a characterimage, photo-electric apparatus being employed to respond to acoincidence of a character and image. It is the object of my inventionto provide an improved machine of this type which is simple inconstruction, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

My invention will be better understood from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and

its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the single figure of the drawing which illustrates the preferredembodiment of my invention, I have shown at 1 a card or sheet havingthereon a series of numbers 2 which are to be added. The card 1 is shownsupported for vertical movement between the rollers 3 and 4, the latterof which, by means subsequently to be described, is arranged to be movedstep by step an amount sufficient to move the card a distancecorresponding to the spacing of the figures thereon. Arranged oppositethe card is the stencil 5 shown as a disc having digits 1 to 9 inclusivestenciled therein and mounted on the shaft 6. This shaft is adapted tobe rotated by hand or by electric motor through the worm gear 7 and worm8. By means of the light source 10 and condensing lens 11, the card 1 isbrightly illuminated in the region of one of thenumbers 2 thereon and bymeans of lens 12 an image of the illuminated number is formed on thedisc 5. The stenciled numbers 14 on disc 5 are so shaped andproportioned that they are exact duplicates of the images of t0 thenumbers used on'card 1 and as the disc is rotated there is one positionin each rotation of the disc in which the image formed thereon exactlycoincides with one of the stenciled numbers. Hence at the instant at L5which the disk occupies this position, a minimum of zero value of lightis transmitted through the disc. Arranged behind the disc is thephoto-electric device 15 whose window is arranged to receive lightpassing through the stencil numbers, The output of tube 15 1931. {SerialNo. 533,176;

connects with amplifier 16 of well known construction which not onlyamplifies the output of the tube but also is constructed to deliver atripping voltage to device 20, to be described later, only when thelight received by the photo cell reaches a predetermined minimum or zerovalue. In order that the photo tube and amplifier shall not make aresponse due to the absence of light during the interval between thesuccessive stenciled numbers on the disc, I have provided the smallopenings 17 in the disc to keep the tube illuminated during suchintervals.

The output circuit of the amplifier 16 connects through the vaporelectric'discharge device 20 to control current flow from source 18 tothe selector switch 21 and the registering device 22, which in thepresent case is an adding machine. This machine may be of any well knownconstruction, the keys of 7'. which are provided with electromagneticoperating means shown for example as solenoids 23 having plungers 24engaging the respective keys. The selector switch 21 comprises therotatable contact 25 and the cooperating series of nine contacts 26,each contact being connected with one of the solenoids 23 of the ninekeys for digits 1 to 9 inclusive. For the purpose of moving the card 1bearing the numbers to be added a diS- 89 tance corresponding to thespacing of the numbers for each rotation of the disc 5, I have providedthe selector switch 21 with an additional contact 27 and I connect thiscontact with the solenoid 28 having plunger 29 which through pawl 30serves at each energization of the solenoid to rotate the toothed wheel31 the properamount to move the card 1 a distance corresponding to thespacing of the figures thereon. The plunger 29 is provided with thereturn spring 32 and is limited in its downward movement by theadjustable stop 33.

In the operation of the apparatus the card 1 is placed in position withthe first of the series of numbers so located that its image 1 is formedin the proper position on disc 5. The disc is then caused to rotatemoving each successive stenciled number through the image of thisfigure. During the rotation responding number, at which time the lightentering the cell will be reduced to a minimum or to a zero value. Atthat instant an impulse will be delivered to the adding machine 22 butonly that key of the latter will be operated which at that instant isincluded in the circuit by the selector switch 21. After each completerotation of the disc the circuit of the solenoid 28 will be closed tocause the advance of the card 1 a distancecorresponding to the spacingof the figures thereby bringing the next figure of the series in aposition to be imaged on the disc whe the same operation is repeated. 4

Under certain conditions I may prefer to omit the extra contact 27 andconnect the solenoid 28 in series with the main supply circuit of theselector switch. In this case the card 1 would be advancedsimultaneously with the operation of the first key of the adding machinewithout waiting for a complete rotation of the disc 5.

I may also prefer to make certain obvious changes in the optical systemsuch as to re-. verse the positions of the lamp 10 and photoelectricdevice 15 in which case the image of, a stencil number would be formedon the card 1, or to employ an unperforated disc carrying white figureson a black face facing the card 1, the photo-electric device in thatcase .receiving light reflected from the disc.

For purposes of illustration I have shown and described my invention asadapted for adding a row or column of numbers, although it is notlimited to such use as it is equally applicable to various other uses.For example, the disc 5 may have stenciled characters of various otherforms, such as letters of the alphabet, etc., and also machine 22 may bea form of recording machine such as a typewriter.

While I have shown this apparatus in its simplest form and as adapted toadd a single column of figures, it will be evident that by the use of aplurality of stenciled discs, photo tubes, amplifiers and selectorswitches, a plurality of columns may be added each column being arrangedto operate a separate row of keys on the adding machine.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. statistical machine comprising means adapted to support a memberbearing a plurality of characters, a movable member having a series ofdifferent characters similar to said characters, means for imaging aportion of one of said members on the other whereby in oneposition ofthe movable member a character and an image of the correspondingcharacter will coincide, a photo-electric device arranged to respond tosaid coincidence, a reglsterlng device connected with saidphoto-electric device and having a plurality of operating circuitscorresponding respectively with the different characters and a circuitselector therefor arranged to move with said movable member.

2. A statistical machine comprising a movable member having a series ofdiflerent characters thereon, means for projecting on said member theimage of a character similar to one of said characters, a photo-electricdevice arranged to respond to the coincidence of said image and a likecharacter on the member, a summation device having an elec tromagneticoperating member for each character on said movable member and aselector switch comprising a contact movable with said movable memberand a series of contacts cooperating therewith and connected with therespective operating members.

4:. A'statistical machine comprising a movable member having a series ofdifferent stenciled characters thereon, means for projecting on saidmember the image of a character similar to one of said characters, aphoto electric device arranged behind the movable member, a summationdevice having an electromagnetic operating member for each character, aswitch between said photo-electric device and said operating memberscomprising a contact movable with the movable member and a plurality ofcooperating contacts connected respectively with said operating members.

5. A statistical machine comprising a rotatable stencil of differentcharacters, means for projecting on said stencil the image of acharacter similar to that comprising the stencil, a photo-electricdevice behind the stencil, an amplifier therefor, a summation devicehaving a plurality of keys corresponding with said characters and eachprovided with an operating electro-magnet, and a selector switch incircuit with the summation device and the amplifier having a pluralityof fixed contacts connected with the respective electro-magnets and arotatable contact connected to rotate with the stencil.

6. A statistical machine comprising a rotatable disc having d'ifierentnumbers stenciled therein, means arranged to project on said disc theimage of each of a series of numbars to be added, means for rotating thedisc, a photo-electric device positioned behind the disc, an amplifiertherefor, an adding machine having a plurality of keys correspondingwith said characters and an electromagnet for operating each key and aselector switch for connecting the machine with the amplifier comprisina contact rotatable with said disc and a series of fixed contactsconnected with the respective magnets.

7 A statistical machine com rising means adapted to support a memberaring a plurality of characters, a movable member hav- "ing a series ofdifferent characters similar thereto, means for imaging a portion of oneof said members on the other whereby in one position of the movablemember a character and an image of the correspondin character willcoincide, a photo-electric evice arranged to respond to saidcoincidence, a reg istering device connected with said photoelectricdevice and havin a plurality of operating circuits correspon ing withsaid charing the disc, a photo-electric device positioned behind thedisc, an amplifier, an adding machine having magnets for operating therespective keys corresponding with sai characters, a selector switchhaving a contact rotatable with said disc and connected in the amplifiercircuit and an electromagnetic device connected with said selectorswitch for intermittently advancing the supporting member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

PAUL W. HANDEL.

III

